Jose Angel Pereira is one of the members of the CITGO6, a group of Americans wrongfully detained and held captive in Venezuela. He was held for 1,775 days, from November 21, 2017, to October 1, 2022. His only crime is that he is an American. Before the Venezuelan regime took Mr. Pereira, hostage, he spent 35 Years of Experience as an Oil Company Executive. He was formerly Citgo Petroleum's CEO (a US-based Refineries Complex and Broad Gas Station Distribution Center across the United States).
Since returning on October 1, 2022, after being illegally and wrongfully detained for nearly five years, he has focused on reconnecting with his family while writing his memoir. He advocates for other Americans wrongfully detained as hostages abroad and uses his voice to help change US policy on dealing with hostages and those wrongfully detained. Mr. Pereira will continue to leverage his international experiences as a point of reference to empower others in making positive changes in the world. His motto is never to give up and never lose Faith. You can find out more about Jose by clicking here.
Jose Angel Pereira, Coach as a Survivor LLC
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
I was a former oil company executive with thirty-five years of and the former CEO of Citgo Petroleum, who was unjustly detained and held captive in Venezuela as a member of the CITGO6, a group of six Americans employed by Citgo.
My wrongful captivity, officially classified so by the US Government, was based solely on my American nationality, and it lasted for 1,775 days, from November 21, 2017, to October 1, 2022.
Since returning from my five-year detention, I have reconnected with my family and written my memoir.
I stand up for Americans unlawfully detained overseas and I strive to modify US laws concerning these crimes.
I am continuing to leverage my experiences living and working in multiple countries to engender compassion in individuals of all ethnicities and across all cultural and political considerations to bring hostages home. I strongly am empowering others to make positive changes in the world as I am still working to re-acclimate to society but passionate about joining my voice with others intent on raising awareness.
My book became a riveting account of the events leading up to and during the imprisonment of the CITGO6. Notably, during most of my detainment, my wife and I engaged in a death-defying act reminiscent of Anne Frank secreting her diary from the Nazis. We began to smuggle letters to each other, which boosted our morale to keep living another day and inspired my book "From Hero to Villain –The True Story of the Citgo6". These words served as a vital resource for me in outlining my memoir.
The determination and bravery embodied by my wife, the risk I took to communicate with her and the remarkable act of her preserving these letters under such punishing days added a remarkable layer of depth to my story.
When you read my account, you will be with me in the gritty cell, enduring the agony with my fellow prisoners, then finally rejoicing when I hear the news that I am going home.
Today my motto is “Never give up and never lose faith.”
Can you share the inspiration behind starting your business?
I was wrongfully detained and held captive in Venezuela for nearly five years, from November 21, 2017, to October 1, 2022.
I was one member of the so-called CITGO6 and my only crime was being American.
Before I was taken hostage, I spent thirty-five years as an oil company executive and CEO of Citgo Petroleum (a US-based refineries complex and broad gas station distribution center).
After the United States Government orchestrated my release, I turned my focus to advocating and supporting hostage families enduring similar nightmares and broken processes.
My experience made it clear that I survived and I can help others struggling to overcome, thrive, and succeed in any circumstance.
I now speak to spread a message of resilience, hope, faith, and survival.
I believe that I'm proof that we can conquer anything in life.
Today I work to combine my career and life experiences with strategic planning and a relentless mindset approach to coach others through seemingly insurmountable situations.
My coaching program I decided to call: LIFE PILLS FOR A SURVIVAL GUIDE(LPSG).
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
I'm relatively new in the coaching world, due to being only 14 months, I was freed from my 5 years of captivity.
When I decided to convert my combined Corporate and Survivor experience of 40 years and converted it in a coaching program, was because in my past Corporate World my passion was creating world class teams and making multicultural integrations in several startups in huge JVs with Multinational Oil Companies, where we developed successful teams from scratch
That passion in helping others and guiding people with my leadership skills I introduced it in my coaching program today I practice
One of the things I would encourage my colleagues is to try to focus more on the Human point of view, not viewing this as a simple money maker business
I see too many “Snake Charmers” in the industry offering “Magical Solutions” to complex problems, that really need a more personal touch to make a true change in the lives of others
Could you provide an overview of the main products or services offered through your business?
My coaching program, LPSG, is meticulously designed to cater to the unique needs of CEOs' and Business Owners, taking out their unbreakable spirit and empowering their leadership capabilities, promoting growth in management performance, addressing intercommunication obstacles, enhancing employee engagement, resolving teamwork issues, and facilitating tailored one-on-one or group coaching sessions.
I also facilitate CEOs and businesses in assessing and managing the risks involved in overseas business travel and relocation of staff as expatriates, drawing upon my extensive experience in handling expatriates and surviving a hostage situation.
My mission is to help my clients find their unbreakable spirit and bounce back stronger from any adversity.
I also share my inspiring story and insights as a public speaker and author, raising awareness and advocacy for the hostage community.
You can hire me to your Corporate Stages to speak to your employees and inspire them to become stronger and boost their resilience.
How do you engage with your audience and community?
I am today active in Linkedin hosting or have been invited as a Guest in Audio Rooms where I speak on Leadership and Resilience. I currently have a weekly newsletter where I write on: “Building resilience in Leadership”, I also continue posting and doing videos were I talk about this topic in all my social media
I am also currently being invited to do interviews on Radio and TV shows, assist with panels, or attend as a guest in podcasts where I talk about leadership and my other passion that is advocated for the Hostage Community to raise awareness on the evil practice of the “Hostage Diplomacy”.
Last and foremost, I am a motivational speaker. It is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my career. I've been fortunate to speak in a variety of settings and interact with professionals from the C-suite to individual contributors from many industries.
These opportunities have led to facilitating engaging workshops, and masterclasses and coaching leaders across cultures and generations.
What are your plans for the future development of your business? Are there any upcoming features, products, or innovations that your audience can look forward to?
I am very excited about beginning next year to speak in Colleges and Universities to spread my speech “From Captivity to Freedom”: where I give a message of Strength, Hope. Faith, Love and resilience, and overcoming any adversity in youth lives and thriving, that will be one of our main goals next year.
I also have been promoting my book “From Hero to Villain-The True Story of the Citgo6” that is currently in the pre-order process until the end of the year, and is ready to launch at the beginning of the year I will also start a book tour to promote it and be part of my speaking gigs
I will continue doing my coaching program targeting more the Oil and Gas niche where I come from, and due to I'm located in Houston the Energy City of the World.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
All this year i have dedicated to pivot my new career path and building my brand to become an authority in Leadership and Resilience as I am know, and been invited to become a Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine is part of that strategic path.
I am a motivational speaker to watch in 2024.
I have also become a vocal and authorized voice of the Hostage Community constantly collaborating with all the foundations that advocate for Families and Hostag, and being in contact with the Hostage Community too, constantly written articles, attending expert panels, supporting fundraising campaigns, giving an interview, assisting to TV shows, Radio Show and Podcast, always in the line to raise awareness to stop the “Hostage Diplomacy”.
I am FINALLY in the PRIME of my life, blazing new trails while modeling and empowering younger generations as part of my new mission in life.
Pre-order my book “From Hero to Villain -The True Story of the citgo6”
